There’s really no such thing as a bad Magic Slim CD, and this one is no better, or no worse, than any of his previous ones. The problem is, he’s so prolific it’s hard to fgure out which one to get. This is his 10th release on Blind Pig to go along with the dozens of releases he’s previously had on domestic and foreign labels. Interesting, Slim’s back playing his signature Fender Jazzmaster after a brief flirtation with a Gibson Les Paul. Once again, this song list reads like a jukebox on Chicago’s west side. What I like is Slim’s tackling “Part Time Love” and the slow burner, “Cummins Prison Farm.” Not straight covers, lots of grit and grits on Slim’s part. There’s a handful of originals with merit, the best being the demanding, “Treat Me the Way You Do.”

As a guitarist, he covers some of what would have been horn parts, just like his mentor, the great Magic Sam. If this was a new artist, I’d be screaming the praises of this one far and wide. However, if you already have two or three Magic Slim CDs, this might be an unnecessary addition to your collection.